Landove is a little-known company that has been making waves in the birdwatching world these past few years. They are now known for offering exceptionally well-built spotting scopes for low amounts of money. Here we will be reviewing the Prism Spotting Scope with 20-60x magnification. They have three models in three different objective lens setups but we thought that the 80mm one offers the best price-to-value ratio of them all. Either way, we will mention the other two variations when it comes to the lenses. For now, let’s just straight into this review!
Having a good magnification range paired with a large 80mm objective lens, the Landove Spotting Scope makes for a great tool for any birdwatcher to have. It has excellent image quality which is crisp, sharp, and most importantly – well lit even in darker conditions. The scope features an angled eyepiece and durable construction that can withstand anything from hits to rain and fog. As an addition to all that, you are getting a nice variety of accessories that will take your birdwatching routine to the next level. The only slight disadvantage of this scope is its somewhat narrow field of view but that can also be an upside for people who want to zoom in on a very specific small target such as a bird.
Product Overview And Features
Out of all the features we wanted to start with the overall performance of this scope. It handles very well in below-average conditions such as a foggy morning or low-light dusk birdwatching sessions. Not only is that objective lens big and good for light-capturing but it also has no shading or warping of the image around its edges and is fully multi-coated which further enhances the image you are getting.
There are two more options for this particular spotting scope in which you can get it. They are:
- 20-60x magnification with a dual 62mm objective lens setup
- 20-60x magnification with a single 65mm objective lens
The third option is the same type of magnification but with a 80mm lens. For us, the 62mm dual-lens setup isn’t worth the investment as it costs 10 dollars less than the 80mm model and it is inferior in terms of image quality, even though it performs well in very brightly lit conditions. The only option that actually saves you a bit of money is the 65mm model as it is a sub-100 dollar scope and for the money it really is a good deal. Still, we think that spending a little extra to get that huge objective lens is never a bad idea.
- Big objective lens
- Very bright and crisp image
- Durable construction
- Intuitive optics design
- Comes with a lot of additional accessories
- Excellent price-to-value ratio
The first thing that we are going to discuss is also the most important for birdwatchers. That is…
Magnification
Basically, it is a birdwatching standard for scopes to have a maximum magnification of up to 60-80 times. This is why having a scope that can go from 20x to 60x is something like the golden middle. It can show you birds that are relatively close to you, as well as ones that are more than a thousand yards away in full detail and with as little color sacrifices as possible.
This particular model has an incredible near-focusing capability as well. It can focus object as near as 6meters (nearly 20ft) which practically makes it a microscope for bids that are in your backyard trees once you zoom enough on them.
The field of view here is narrow at 0.91 degrees to 1.58 degrees. This results in a 48 to 82 ft field of view at a thousand yards. Some other scopes are better in this aspect as they can get up to 100-200ft FOV. If you are tracking a stationary bird, the narrow field of view is good for focusing on just it and as little of the surroundings as possible. If you are observing a bird in flight, though, you might want to opt for a scope with a wider field of view in order to keep an easier track of the bird while still being zoomed in on it.
The eye relief on this scope is adjustable from 15mm to almost 18mm which is great for people who wear glasses.
Lenses
As we mentioned, there are 3 lens setups here but the one that “catches the eye” the most is the 80mm one as it is the best price-to-value deal in our opinion. Although it is very large, it doesn’t distort the image around its edges thanks to the multi-coating process. It allows a lot of light into the BaK-4 prism inside the scope and creates a vivid image which is very close to what our eyes see. Thanks to its size it is also an ideal objective lens for people who observe birds during the dusk or dawn.
Construction
The construction is where this scope really shines compared to its competition. On the outside, you will find a soft rubber cover which acts as a protective layer around the whole spotting scope. It is soft and comfortable to the touch but at the same time does amazing job for shock absorption. This is a good feature for clumsy people that tend to drop their tools. If that is an issue we would also recommend getting a neck strap.
The scope itself is nitrogen filled which helps with waterproofing it. That also prevents fogging up on the inside, as it basically has no moisture or air. The whole construction is also sealed shut and dustproof. As a whole, it is a very durable model that can be taken anywhere you like without risking damaging it. The skeleton of the scope is made out of a magnesium alloy which helps with sturdiness and adds to the rigidity. The downside of all that protection is that it makes the scope a little bit heavier than usual, sitting at around four and a half pounds.
On top of the scope there is the smooth focusing wheel which allows for a fast and precise focusing. It has a sturdy feel to it and can be turned both fast and slow, as it has a good amount of torque to it.
The eyepiece consists of 7 lenses and they are all FMC coated for further improvement of the final image.
Accessories
Another great thing about this model is that you are getting quite a few accessories with your purchase. In your package there are:
- A digiscoping adapter
- Tripod
- Two lens caps
- User Manual
- Soft carrying bag
The tripod, digiscoping adapter and the carrying bag are nice additions as you won’t have to pay extra to get them. If you have a smartphone with a decent camera resolution you will be able to attach it to your spotting scope and get some great shots with the click of a button. Even though the scope itself is very rigid, we suggest keeping it in its carrying bag at all times. If you are flying frequently, a good idea would be to get a hard case for it. Another great addition to your birdwatching setup would be a comfortable neck/shoulder strap.
Price
In terms of pricing, this model is very well placed among all other spotting scopes on the market. It is more expensive than some models like the Emarth Scope but at the same time much cheaper than the likes of the Celestron Ultima Zoom. This is sort of a niche that Landove decided to fill. That gap between the budget spotting scopes and the medium to premium ones almost never had a decent model. Well… until now. This is why more and more people opt for the Landove Spotting Scope as it brings fairly premium experience at a smaller price.
If you want to check out a variety of spotting scopes from all price brackets, head over to our guide on some of the best budget spotting scopes on today’s market!
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Big objective lens
- Very bright and crisp image
- Durable construction
- Intuitive optics design
- Comes with a lot of additional accessories
- Excellent price-to-value ratio
Cons
- A bit on the heavy side
- The somewhat narrow field of view isn’t by everyone’s taste
Conclusion and Rating
Birding Rocks Rating:
For the money you are paying, the Landove Prism Spotting Scope is one of the better deals out there. Not only you are getting a huge magnification range, and an even bigger objective lens, but you also get a rock-solid construction that can withstand all weather conditions and can take a hit. The scope itself is ideal for birdwatchers that observe nesting birds and more static specimen but isn’t ideal for birds in flight unless you zoom out on the bird which negates the whole purpose of birdwatching. All that is due to the rather narrow field of view. The extra accessories you are getting will more than make up for all that, though. As a whole, we gave this scope a four and a half out of five stars rating.
